Speeding On Bly Hollow Road An Ongoing Problem
By Doug La Rocque
Residents of Bly Hollow Road spoke to the Berlin town board with some urgency about the need to reduce the speed limit there from 40 to 30 miles per hour. Doug Goodermote, (speaking as a private citizen and not as Dog Control Officer) said the driver of a milk tanker parked in front of his barn recently was nearly struck by a speeding vehicle as it passed. [private]The owner of the Bly Hollow Brewery, Jonathan Post, also spoke out about the problem. He said he is closing his Tap Room in Stephentown in the next few months and relocating it on his property on Bly Hollow. He expressed his concern for his patron’s safety Goodermote and other residents have previously spoken about the number of vehicles traveling at excessive rates of speed on that road, and they were back this month to emphasize that it is a very dangerous situation that must be addressed. They presented the Board with detailed instructions as to how to begin the process of lowering the speed limit. The first step is for the Town Board to petition Rensselaer County Engineer Wayne Bonesteel to accept the change, and bring it to New York State’s Department of Transportation for approval. Town Highway Superintendent Jim Winn reminded Goodermote and the Board that this can be a lengthy process, even if successful. He recommended they contact area law enforcement and ask for stepped-up patrols in the area. Goodermote said he would do just that. There have been two traffic fatalities on the road in recent years, one of which authorities say was directly related to speeding.
Regular Business
The Board accepted the Town Clerk’s report, which included a summation of state, county and local revenues totaling $8,726.50. The total of non local revenues collected was $4,813.41. In accordance with the Town’s recent agreement with the New York State Comptroller’s office, Supervisor Rob Jaeger also read the Water District 2 financial report, which included a total billing of $ 17,950.57, of which $6,740.44 is unpaid. Those who are delinquent will see their water district billing rolled over to their property tax bills.
Highway Superintendent Winn told the Board his department has been busy grading off roads in preparation for winter, laying mixtures of sand and oil and paving on the CC Dam road. Dog Control Officer Goodermote reported on one barking dog complaint that was resolved in Cherry Plain.
Codes Enforcement Officer Walter Yerton told the Board he would be attending mandatory training October 19 to 21. He would report back to the Board in November. Youth Commission Chairwoman Tammy Osterhout said she is still working on the survey of residents about their desires and expectations of the Youth Commission. She hopes to have the draft available for Board review for their next workshop meeting.
Supervisor Jaeger told the Board he has had an initial offer from the union representing the Town’s highway employees. The matter will be further discussed in executive session.
Supervisor Jaeger told the Board they were in receipt of a letter from the Mayor of Port Jervis, New York, a village along the New York-New Jersey border. The letter asked Berlin to sign on to a petition requesting New York cut its sales tax rate for municipalities along the state borders, hoping to keep residents from doing so much shopping in neighboring states who have lower sales tax rates. Jaeger told the Board he did not feel the types of businesses in Berlin are such that they were losing customers to Massachusetts or Vermont, and wondered about the success of such a petition anyway.
In new business, the Board approved a resolution brought forward by Town Justice Joseph Rechen for the submission of a request for $10,000 from the NYS Justice Court Assistance Program (JCAP). If received, the money would be used to create record retention and storage space in the basement of the Town Hall building.
Supervisor Jaeger requested dates from the Board for workshops on the Town’s tentative budget. He said he has most of the department head requests in hand for them to consider. The Board set Wednesday, October 14 and Thursday October 22 as the dates for these workshops, both beginning at 7 pm. October 22 is also the date of the Board’s regular workshop meeting. Jaeger told the Board they would target a public hearing on the budget for Thursday, November 12 at 7 pm. Jaeger also told the Board the large American flag in front of the municipal complex would soon be replaced with a smaller one for winter. He also stated the American Legion in Berlin had donated five new flags to the town, and has made it possible for the Town to purchase new flags through them for reduced prices.
Halloween Party
Youth Commission Chairwoman Osterhout reminded the Board the annual Halloween Party and Parade would take place at 7 pm on October 31. Festivities begin at the Berlin Fire House on Community Avenue. Food donations for the party are welcome. Osterhout asked for a little less cupcakes and more cookies this year. [/private]